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WITandWISDOM(tm) - May 7, 2007 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: When a defining moment comes along, you can do one of two things. Define the moment, or let the moment define you. - Tin Cup Source: Carol's Thought for Today, http://home.comcast.net/~mrs.carol/ ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: The CBS television show The Amazing Race tells the stories of several teams as they race around the globe for a one-million-dollar prize. The pressures of the race reveal the character of the participants. Some lie or cheat while others show integrity, like that displayed by Uchenna and his wife, Joyce. In the final leg of the race, they started out with no possessions and no money. They threw themselves at the mercy of strangers asking for money or rides in order to complete the tasks required to finish. They managed to hire a cab, but while they were on the way, the fare exceeded the amount of money they had collected. Uchenna warned the cab driver that they didn't have enough money to cover the fare if they went any further, but promised he would make up the difference and take care of the cabbie once they arrived. The cabbie agreed, and Uchenna and Joyce arrived first just yards from the finish line. All that was needed to win one million dollars was to enter a gate and cross the line. They handed the cabbie all the money they had and even offered him Uchenna's wedding ring, hoping it would be enough, but the cabbie refused, saying, "I don't need rings. I need money." Uchenna and Joyce hopped out of the cab, stared at the gate knowing the prize was theirs if only they would walk through it. But Uchenna had made a promise, and his integrity with this stranger was more important than winning. His wife suggested they run through the gate, collect the prize, and then come back and pay the cabbie, but he said, "No. I've got to take care of this man." They again relied on the kindness of strangers, and then thanked the people that gave them anything. And to people who said, "Begging isn't the way to go," they said, "I understand. Thank you anyway." Meanwhile, Rob and Amber, CBS Survivor winners notorious for underhanded game playing, were getting so close that they could see Uchenna and Joyce just outside the gate. It looked as though after all they'd been though, Uchenna and Joyce would lose because they had too much integrity to break a promise. Finally, someone gave them the last $10, and the cabbie told them, "Enough! You're free to go." Uchenna and Joyce made a run through the gate. They not only won first prize, but they did so with integrity. Integrity's reward does not often result in a cash prize. The real rewards are in purity of character, a clean conscience before God, right relationships, and the untainted joy of doing the right thing. The Amazing Race, CBS television (5-10-05), produced by Mark Burnett Source: Preaching Today, http://tinyurl.com/328jd ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: What’s For Dinner? Don’t Ask ©Lisa Barker When I’m on the ball, I’m in the kitchen at 3:30 PM and I have a great dinner—and dessert—ready by the time my husband gets home. But I’ll admit that I’m a seasoned procrastinator and most days I’m winging it. I have a good idea what I have in the freezer and fridge and it usually all comes together within thirty minutes before my husband walks in the door. But tonight, I was winging it the minute I walked in the door after Church. Six pairs of hungry eyes were trained on me from the minute I set foot in the foyer. I’ve learned to ignore these stares and they’ve all learned not to ask me what’s for dinner—or else. You don’t want to push Momma when she’s got a dinner deadline to meet, pronto! Well, I amaze myself sometimes. Some call what I made for dinner “American Chop Suey.” Others call it “Hamburger Helper.” I called it: “Shutupandeatit.” Served with a side of salad (and rolls that I totally forgot about until 3 ½ hours after dinner) it was completely edible, substantial and tasty, even though the kids doubted it before they had their first taste. I try to ignore them when they push stuff around on their plate, but inevitably I was asked, “What’s in it?” “If you must know, it’s leftover macaroni and cheese with hamburger, tomato sauce and Sloppy Joe seasoning.” My eight-year old son was impressed. Mind you, this is the same child that’s impressed with whatever odd thing he finds on the street and gives to me, things I sometimes have to deposit directly into the trash. The girls were more cautious. “What do you call this again?” “She said, ‘shutupandeatit.’” “Oh, I get it!” “What’s for dessert, Momma?” “Seconds.” Sure, it’s not Wall Street, but cram seven of us in a kitchen that is less than 200 square feet and the adrenaline starts pumping. “I’ll take seconds!” “Are there thirds?” “You want seconds? Here you go. And, no, you can’t have thirds because you’ll vomit. Move your elbow out of your sister’s plate.” “I don’t want to sit by him, he’ll get sick on me.” “Stop looking at me!” “Mom!” “Right foot on yellow, left hand on blue, right hand on green…. Okay. Is everybody ready?” “Bless us, O, Lord and these Thy gifts that we are about to receive….” “Achoo!” “Eeeeew!!” (Raucous laughter from the offending boy.) “Mother!” “And God bless you.” “Can I wash my pork chop? I think I’m going to be sick now.” The Family Table: Make time for more than just dinner with your family. Get in there and swap some of those germs, catch those screwed up faces when you present the entrée and sit back and take it all in with your beloved spouse while your cherubs cast lots for the side dishes. And don’t forget to duck those flying mashed potatoes. By Lisa Barker a syndicated humor columnist and mom of five. Her latest book is 'Just Because Your Kids Drive You Insane ... Doesn't Mean You Are A Bad Parent!' http://www.JellyMom.com Please forward this to friends and family. Keep it intact from top to bottom and tell them where they can get more Jelly Mom: http://www.jellymom.com Won't you stop by and sign up for your very own subscription? It's on me! And you will get a new column in your email box every Thursday--something fresh and new before anyone else on the Internet: http://www.jellymom.com ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: Helping his wife wash the dishes, a minister protested, "This isn't a man s job." Oh yes, it is, his wife retorted, quoting 2 Kings 21:13: "I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down." Submitted by B. B. ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: MISSOURI CITY, Mo. (AP – April 5, 2007) -- Joe Selle didn't exactly get voted out office this week, but he wasn't re-elected, either. Selle, who was running unopposed for City Council, didn't get any votes at all. Not even one from himself. Selle, 42, said he simply forgot that Tuesday was election day, and apparently so did Ward 3's other 34 registered voters. The result was zero votes cast in Selle's race, but the city charter lets him keep the seat unless someone else is "successfully elected and qualified," the city attorney said. Selle, a professional musician, was recently appointed to fill a council vacancy and had been seeking a full term. He said he saw other residents at the school where the voting was held, "but it never occurred to me that's what they were there for." "It's pretty small-town stuff down here, man," Selle said of the Missouri River town of about 300 people, 16 miles northeast of Kansas City. Turnout was better in Ward 2, where two people voted. © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Tampa Bay Online, http://www.tbo.com/